Oil & Fuel Fuel OK?

MrFixit · Feb 8, 2006

My local gas station has Diesel fuel along the normal petro pumps. My manual says use type "0" but I think I read a prevoius discussion that says use type "1". In any case the Pump does not tell me what type it is, it's just Diesel. Being sold at a small gas station, not a truck stop, It's probably for use in automobiles. Bt is it OK for my KAMA 354 Tractor?

Tim

bluechip · Feb 8, 2006

MrFixit · Feb 9, 2006

Thanks Chip!

I drained my old factory fuel today. It was discusting! I started draining it into a clean, white, plastic Paint Bucket. By the time it was 1/2 inch deep I could no longer see the bottom at all. It was darker and thicker than Starbucks High Octane Coffee! As I moved the bucket I could see waves of very fine sediment along with occasional chunks.

Do the chinese actually run their tractors on this stuff? Or do they sip on it to wake them up in the morning!

Tim

greg_g · Feb 9, 2006

I suspect most of the fluids put into Chinese tractors - particularly Jinmas - is used stuff that was just put in there for warehousing and transport. Dealers that have an eye toward repeat customers usually remedy the mess prior to sale.

Can't put in used fuel though, so I suspect what you're seeing is mostly algae that propagated during transport and warehousing. Some of the tanks - for reasons that escape me - were painted inside as well. Even after you drain, algae will remain clinging to the tank walls, the float mechanism, and probably even the siphon. I'm sure your fuel filter is contaminated as well. Replace it, top up the tank with fresh fuel, and add a biocide. You'll continue to see dead algae accumulate in the sediment bowl, dump/rinse it once in a while. Even after flushing and all the above described steps, it still took ~9 months for that crap to stop accumulating in the KAMA sediment bowl.

//greg//

3RRL · Feb 9, 2006

I hear ya Greg,
My Kama is now 6 months old and I still get about ¼" residue each time I clean it.

bluechip · Feb 9, 2006

The Chinese diesel is very dark and smells funny. The Chinese are kind enough to send us 2 or 3 gallons with every tractor, in spite of my pleas to stop.

MrFixit · Feb 10, 2006

After reading Greg's response I found the sediment bowl well hidden under the dash. It has a clamp going from the upper section to hold the bowl on and a maybe a drain at the bottom. I can't get my hand in there to pop the lever or unscrew the drain. Do I have to take the side panels or dash parts off to get at this thing? Maybe smaller Chinese fingers would do the trick!

I suspected the only filtration method was the spin on filter. Wish I would have found this thing (Read Greg's reply) before putting 5 fresh gallons in the tank and replaced the filter!

There are a lot of very experienced and helpful people on this site and I'm very thankful to all of them!

Tim

3RRL · Feb 10, 2006

MrFixit,
Not sure on yours, but on my Kama that wingnut that looks like a drain is really the clamp holding the glass bowl on. No drain...

psj12 · Feb 10, 2006

The fuel from china is actually a high sulfur type that is no longer available here except by special order. Even off road diesel is low sulphur DL2 with dye added.

bluechip · Feb 10, 2006

rob is right, no drain, unclamp and remove sediment bowl to clean (be sure to turn off fuel first with the valve provided at the top of the sedement bowl assy.

Scozz · Feb 10, 2006

Same amount of sediment still in my 1.5 year old KM454 ... Scozz

greg_g · Feb 10, 2006

( Same amount of sediment still in my 1.5 year old KM454 ... Scozz )

Did you actually ever flush the fuel tank and use a biocide? That - and six months of emptying the sediment bowl - was all it took to get rid of the red paint chips and algae from mine.

//greg//

Paddy · Feb 10, 2006

When i ordered my KAMA 454, Chip of Artrac used me as an experiment. He coated/sealed the tank with a product from NAPA...I think.

I have just looked since we are all discussing. I have about 1/8" of deposits in the glass bowl. I would consider this clean. In the almost one year, I have never drained it. I should say she sits in her heated garage..much to my wife's tured up nose! Just kidd'en

Patrick

Scozz · Feb 10, 2006

Greg I flushed it w/ clean fuel .. forced it thru with compressed air when I got it but never added any treatments. The fuel I use (#2 heating oil) is treated with Tolade (I work for a fuel distributor) but that just helps prevent gelling. I've probably cleaned the sediment bowl 4 times since I've had it. I have had the needle valve clog twice when doing hours of mowing during the summer. Lost power to the point of stall ... screwed valve in then out and she was off and running .. I'll cruise the shelves at NAPA and see what I can come up with for a treatment ... Thanks .. Scozz

greg_g · Feb 11, 2006

Your store might have it, but the guys at mine just looked at me funny. I found a better place to try is somewhere that sells/services marine diesels.

//greg//

psj12 · Feb 13, 2006

I have a KAMA but also own an old english trator called a Nuffield. When the fuel tank in it developed pinhole leaks from condensation rust I had it coated with the NAPA fuel tank product. It works just fine now 2 years later. Just be sure to remove your strainer screen and plug the hole with a pipe plug prior to coating. Guess how i learned this.

3RRL · Feb 13, 2006

Hi Tim,
Here is a picture of the hand tightened nut that holds the fuel bowl on my KM554. Notice that there is less than 1/4" residue in mine now. I think this is acceptable.

Harrygoodwrench · Feb 13, 2006

( When i ordered my KAMA 454, Chip of Artrac used me as an experiment. He coated/sealed the tank with a product from NAPA...I think.

I have just looked since we are all discussing. I have about 1/8" of deposits in the glass bowl. I would consider this clean. In the almost one year, I have never drained it. I should say she sits in her heated garage..much to my wife's tured up nose! Just kidd'en

Patrick )

If you still have rust or sediment after all this time it might just be the tank rusting from inside. I'm only saying its a possiblity.
There is a product I have used once that came highly recommended and it worked perfect for 4 years now. I believe it might be benificial in severe tank problems. Its a product called CREEM. I'm sure there are others that work well but this stuff is good stuff. Several restorers also use this.
Try googling Creem gas tank sealer, or another type tank sealer that come highly recommenced is POR-15
Just trying to help.
Regards, HarryG

MrFixit · Feb 13, 2006

Hi Tim,
Here is a picture of the hand tightened nut that holds the fuel bowl on my KM554. Notice that there is less than 1/4" residue in mine now. I think this is acceptable.

 Thanks Rob,

After draining the fuel tank and "Then" discovering the sediment bowl I already had clear duel in the bowl.

I'll know to keep a close eye on it.

Tim

Paddy · Feb 15, 2006

Chip sealed the tank. Having never cleaned/drained the bowl, I consider my tank system to very clean at 1/8" of stuff over a 1 year period.

From what I've read, most have cleaned several times and still fight it.

Patrick